Fri, 27 May 2016, 16:30 PM NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Thunders into New Jersey

Courtesy of NHRA Communications Photo copyright 2016 NHRA/National Dragster For Iconic NHRA Summernationals

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. - The fastest motorsport on the planet will sprint into the Garden State for more 10,000 horsepower, nitro-burning action at the 47th annual NHRA Summernationals, June 9-12, at storied Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. The event, which is the second of four consecutive races in June, will be a true test of strength and endurance for the world's best drag racers and drag racing crews.

Fierce competitors in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will go head-to-head hoping to hoist the Wally trophy in the winner's circle following Sunday's finals at the 10th of 24 events on the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule, but that won't happen without intense focus and determination. With a race every weekend in June, drivers and teams may not have time to blink as they pursue valuable world championship points.

Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Jerry Savoie (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year's winners of the iconic summertime event that for the first time will be televised on FOX Sports 1.

As one of the Northeast's most revered drag racing facilities, Raceway Park has seen its share of 300 mph history and has hosted every major NHRA legend imaginable during the past 47 years. Joe Amato, Kenny Bernstein, "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, Shirley Muldowney, Don Prudhomme, Bob Glidden and John Force are just a few of the marquee drivers in the sport who have celebrated victories at the tradition-rich event, located about a half-hour from New York City.

Antron Brown, Matt Hagan, Jerry Savoie and Greg Anderson won the event last year.

New Jersey native Brown, who grew up in nearby Chesterfield, added his name to that list again last year, racing to his third victory at Englishtown, but first in the Top Fuel category. He won the NHRA Summernationals in 2002 and 2005 in Pro Stock Motorcycle, but never reached the amount of success he achieved in the two-wheeled category at the famed track as he did last year in Top Fuel. The 2015 victory over Brittany Force in front of his hometown fans was his third of the season. He went on to win four more races in his Matco Tools dragster and secured his second world championship in Top Fuel. Brown, currently third in points, will be looking to defend his hometown event this year against a very tough field.

Force earned her first career victory in March at Gainesville, Fla., and is third in Top Fuel points. She met Brown in the final at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, N.C., and exacted a little revenge to hoist her second career Wally. Doug Kalitta, a two-time Englishtown winner and winner of the last three events, leads the points standings. Others in the ultra-competitive Top Fuel field include past NHRA Summernationals winners Richie Crampton, Shawn Langdon, Tony Schumacher and Steve Torrence.

In Funny Car, Hagan outlasted Alexis DeJoria in the final round of last year's event to earn his third victory of the season and second at Raceway Park. The two-time Funny Car world champion won four races in his Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger R/T to finish the season fifth in points. Hagan has a two race win streak and is looking for another win at the NHRA Summernationals.

Matt Hagan celebrated the win last season.

DeJoria, driver of the Tequila Patron Toyota Camry, made her only final round appearance of 2015 in Englishtown but has gotten off to a nice start this year. Currently eighth in points, DeJoria raced to her fourth career victory in March at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. She will look to push her way into the final round at Raceway Park again this season, but that will be no easy feat.

Courtney Force is the Funny Car points lead and will be entering Englishtown with some momentum. Force became the fourth different female to win an event so far this season at the recent race in Houston. She sprinted past Wilkerson in the Texas final to claim her first win of 2016. Wilkerson has two wins under his belt already, marking the best start of his career. Other Funny Car drivers to keep an eye on include four-time event winner and 16-time champion John Force, three-time event winner Cruz Pedregon and reigning world champ Del Worsham.

In Pro Stock, Summit Racing Chevy Camaro driver Anderson sprinted past Allen Johnson in the final last year in Englishtown to earn his sixth career victory at Raceway Park. He won four races in eight final rounds last year to finish second in points. Anderson has already raced to three victories so far this season and will be entering Englishtown with a target on his back.

Greg Anderson celebrated the win last season.

He won't be the only one the rest of the Pro Stock field is gunning for, though. Anderson's Ken Black Racing teammate Jason Line will have competition nipping at his heels as well. Line, the Pro Stock points leader, has tallied five victories this year, too, and is a three-time Summernationals winner. The duo has gotten off to an impressive start in the first season of the all new Pro Stock class, which features electronic fuel injection, a 10,500 rev-limited, flattened hoods and shortened wheelie-bars; but competition in the door-slammer category is stiff with drivers like back-to-back world champ Erica Enders, four-time Englishtown winner Jeg Coughlin, rising star Bo Butner, 2015 Rookie of the Year Drew Skillman and tough Texan Chris McGaha.

Pro Stock Motorcycle will hit the track at Raceway Park and make its fourth appearance of the 2016 season. Last year, Louisiana alligator farmer Savoie raced to his first victory of the season by defeating Jim Underdahl. Savoie rode his White Alligator Racing Suzuki to two more victories in 2015 to finish a career-high third in points. Currently fifth in points, Savoie will look to again jumpstart his season with a win at the Summernationals.

Three-time world champion and 2012 Summernationals winner Eddie Krawiec currently has a grip on the Pro Stock Motorcycle points lead. A former track manager at Englishtown, Krawiec raced his Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to victory at the 2016 season-opener in Gainesville and Atlanta. He also made his way to the final round in Charlotte, but lost to his teammate, reigning world champ and two-time Englishtown winner Andrew Hines. Others in the two-wheeled category hoping to race to the winner's circle include three-time event winner Angelle Sampey, Gatornationals runner-up Hector Arana, two-time champ Matt Smith, veteran rider Steve Johnson, Chip Ellis, Michael Ray Jr. and rookie Melissa Surber.

The NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series returns to Raceway Park for its fourth of 10 races in the 2016 season. Veteran racer Troy Coughlin of Ohio is a two-time and reigning world champion of the class. Rickie Smith, another veteran and two-time world champ, raced to victory at the 2016 season-opener in Gainesville and Atlanta, while Jim Whiteley earned his first career victory at the event in Houston.

The NHRA Summernationals also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, where the future stars of the sport earn their racing stripes.

As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they're granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand how the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.

As part of NHRA's ongoing celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Funny Car class, one legendary Funny Car driver will be honored during pre-race ceremonies.

Fans also will want to visit NHRA's popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create a carnival atmosphere, with interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.

Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 3:45 and 6:15 p.m. on Friday, June 10 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, June 11, at 1:45 and 4:15 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 12.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call Old Bridge Township Raceway Park at (732) 446-7800. Tickets also are available online at www.racewaypark.com. Kids 12 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult.

Before heading to New England Dragway in New Hampshire for the NHRA New England Nationals, June 3-5. Keep up with all the NHRA action on FOX Sports 1.

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